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BATTLEFRONT HEIRLOOMS – OMEGA MILITARY WATCH SERVICE

Wednesday 4th July

Whilst servicing the latest Swiss models is a large part of our watchmaker's daily routine, they take huge pride in sourcing parts and servicing historic models that other service centres may not entertain.

Regularly we have rescued timepieces that customer's had lost all hope in having repaired. Often these can be the more interesting cases of family heirlooms or collectable vintage pieces with high sentimental value.

Recently this was the case as one of our watchmaker's recognised a similar model in the latest Omega magazine as a historic model that was currently on his workbench.

TIMEPIECE OR HISTORICAL TIME MACHINE?

“The market for military timepieces, especially World War Two models, is booming. According to Christie’s watch department in New York, many models have increased in value by 300 percent in five years and others have eclipsed even that. It is not surprising. Ex-service watches are often rare, having been produced in limited numbers, and unique, wth features unavailable on civilian models. However, there is another aspect to them that, frustratingly, is unknowable: what those watches have been through. Handling an Omega Seamaster used by the Special Boat Service, for instance, or an Omega CK2192 worn by a Hurricane pilot in the Battle of Britain, you can’t help thinking: ‘if only these timepieces could act as a time machines and tell their story”.

The Omega article tells the fascinating tale of a gentleman who had inherited his Grandfather’s Omega RAF pilot watch (The model is of similar guise and time period to the one worn by Daniel Craig in Dunkirk).

Our team love the challenge of servicing historical pieces and even more so hearing the stories that they may hold. When booking in your watch at The Watch Hospital for servicing be sure to share your stories behind your beloved timepiece!